Kalyāna-Mitta
kalyāna-mitta:'noble (or good) friend',is called a senior monk who is the mentor and friend of his pupil,"wishing for his welfare and concerned with his progress",guiding his meditation; in particular,the meditation teacher (kammaṭṭhānācariya) is so called.For details see Vis.M.III,28,57ff.The Buddha said that "noble friendship is the entire holy life" (S.III,18; XLV,2),and he himself is the good friend par excellence:Ānanda,it is owing to my being a good friend to them that living beings subject to birth are freed from birth" (S.III,18).